Ventilated fireproof wall.



No. 849,776. PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

L. D. EWING. VENTILATED FIREPROOF WALL.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 26, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEE'1' 1.

PATENTED APR. 9, 1907. L. D. EWING.

VBNTILATED FIREPROOP WALL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ilO

LEWIS D. EWING, OF'AKRQN, OHIO.

VENTILATED FIREPROOF' WALL- Specification of Letters Patent.

f iPatented April 9, 1907.

Application filed May 26, 1905. Serial No. 262,459.

' To all whom it may-concern:

'. Be it known that I, LEWIS D. EWING, a

citizen of .the Unitedstatea'residing at Akron, in thecoun'ty of Summitand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVentilated Fireproof Walls, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates-to improvements in ventilated fireproof walls, andpertains more particularly to the construction of such walls of blocksof concrete or cement.

The object of the invention is the provision of a building-wall whichshall be fireproof, which shall be ventilated and open to the'atmosphere under certain limits, but provided with means for excludingall other objects or things-"than the air, which will be comparaailvelyinexpensive in first cost, strong, dura- A further object is to protectthe inner portions of the. building-Wall from outside atmospheric efiectdue to the conditions of the weather.

With these objects in view the invention 'consists of a building-wallconstructed of cement or concrete blocks formed with a plurality ofportions, as the outer and inner portions, an outer, an intermediate,and an inner portion, or .an outer, an inner, and an intermediate doubleportion. In all the forms the blocks are so arranged and-constructedthat ventilation is provided to the atmosphere by vertical andhorizontal airpas-' sages, the vertical passages extending upwardlythrough the wall and the horizontal passages connecting at certainintervals with the atmosphere. The wall is further provided withair-retaining cells independent of the ventilatingpassages for renderingthe wall a non-conductor of heat and cold within limits, these cellsbeing located in the innermost wall portion. In addition to theventilating air passage-ways and the air-retaining. cellsI provide amultiplicity of air-chambers'located centrally'of the wall for furtherinsulating the Wall against heat or cold.

The blocks are rovided with interlocking joints which will acilitate theapplication of mortar and assure a tight j oint'and also with convenientprojecting portions and recesses to. form convenient holds for handlingthe same.

By the construction of the wall as hereinafter disclosed it ispracticallyim ossible for dampness to be inducted theret rough bycapillary attraction, as it will be observed face-blocks.

the wall are almost entirely separated from the-blocks forming the innerportion of the wall by air-spaces. I

In the drawings I have illustrated one example of the physicalembodiment of my invention and two modifications thereof.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the building-blocks, gaid viewbeing divided by a line, the half at the left representing a portion ofa block used in the outer portion of the wall and the half at the rightin said view indicating a portion of the block employed in constructingthe inner portion of the wall. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of afillerblock, which when used is located centrally of the wall toincrease the area thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of the block shown inFig. 2. Fig. 4 is an inner side .view of the outside face block. Fig. 5is a side (view of the intermediate filler-block shown in Fig. 2. endview of the block shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of part ofa wall constructed with two intermediate rows of fillerblocks locatedbetween the outer and inner face-blocks. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of aportion of the wall constructed of the outer face and inner face blocks,omitting the filler- Fig. 9. is a sectional view of a part of blockslocated-between the outer and inner Fig. 10 is an exterior brolgen faceView of a portion of the Wall embodying my invention; and Fig. 1 1 is atransverse vertical section of a portion of a wall on line a a, Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, the exterior face-blocks are designated bythe numeral 1.

These blocks are provided with an outer elongated side which when theblocks are assembled form the face or front of the building. Theprojections 2 2 of the sides are connected to the inner shorter sides byoblique faces 3 3, which faces are provided with recesses 3 3 forconvenient handholds. At the junction of the shorter side with theoblique surfaces 3 an angular portion 4 is fashioned, which angle formsone of the members of the interlocking joint by which the blocks areheld together. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 11, a groove 5 is formedon the under surface of the block at either side thereof for thereception of mortar and to increase the effectiveness of the bondbetween the blocks. The block has openings or passages extendingvertically there- Fig. 6 is an through, as indicated at 7 7 7, whichwhen the blocks are assembled in the wall form airventilating passages.

act as air-cells, thus providing a multiplicity of air-cells orair-space in the inner portion of the Wall of the building.

The face view, Fig. 10, and sectional view, Fig. 11, illustrate theassembled blocks forming the -building-wall.- The wall is topped outwith a frieze 13, and the, blocks forming the frieze are provided withopenings or holes 13, extending vertically therethrough, which formcontinuations of the ventilating passage-Ways 7 ofthe outer face-block,and these vertical passages have an outletthrough the horizontalpassages 13", which are open to the atmosphere.

' The face of the-frieze may be provided with and forming a continuationof the ventilata variety of ornamental work to suit the fancy, and theseopenings located, as may be desired, to afford an outlet to theatrnosphere from the ventilating-passages formed in the outer portion ofthe wall.

. The water-table 14, which is imposed upon the foundation 15 of thebuilding-wall, projects a suitable distance beyond the line thereof andis provided with apertures, 16,

opening outwardly at the under side thereof ing-passages of the outerportion of the wall and connect the ventilating-passages with theatmosphere. Thus I rovide a continuous ventilating-passage avingopenings at the top and bottom thereof to' the atmos- ;phere for freecirculation of the air thereproviding an ornamental lattice-work panelthrough. Another form of communication with the atmosphereatthe bottomof the ventilating passage-way may be utilized by 17 with atmosphericopenings 17 and .vertical passage 18, the panel being supported by thesill 19. Screens 20 may be provided to exclude birds,'&c. In buildingthe wall the blocks 1 are as sembled so as to brealf joints, as shown inFigs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and so arranged that the joint of adjacent blocks ofthe lower of two horizontal layers of blocks will be equidistantlyoverlapped on top by a block of the upper of said layers, and when theblocks are so located the openings 7 and 7 7. ex-

"air contained in the cells.

- spaces 23 tending through. the upper'lolock are located over thespaceformed in the lower of said layers between adjacent blocks, withpart of said openin s in the upper block extending The blocks employedin constructing the inner face of the wall are assembledso as tobreakjoints and arranged so that the joint of adjacent blocks of "the lowerof two horizontal layers will be equidistantly overlapped on top by ablock of the upper of said layers. Thus the cavities 12 12 12 arelocated over the-s ace formed in the lower of said layers b weenadjacent blocks, thereby forming air-litaining cells between thesaidlayers; j

' The mortar placed between the conjoining sides of adjacent layers ofblocks provides 'suflicientfspace to allow for a slight circulationofair' between the air-retaining cells to provide'for contraction andexpansion of the 1 It will be observed that the outlines of the outerand .inner blocks are such that they extend from either face of the wallinwardly beyond the inner line of-the blocks forming the opposite face.of the wall and overlap the lower-block of two adjacent layers ofblock, thereby forming a bond between the two faces of the wall.

the principles of my invention, wherein it is desired to'increase thewidth. of the walls 7 of a building; Referring to Fig. 7, if an extremewidthof wall is required,-I employ a number of courses of filler-blocks21 in conjunction with the outer and inner faceblocks 1 and 8. Each ofthese filler-blocks has an angular portion21, adapted to inter lock withthe angle portions 8 of the inner face-block in some instances, and tointerlock with each other at the center of the wall, and also tointerlock with the angular portions 4 of the outer face-block. Thus wh nassembled thetwo face-blocks and the intermediate or 'filler blocks aretightly jointed together, and the wall is bonded together by theoverlapping of the upper blocks of adjacent layers of blocks. Air spacesor cells 22 are formed in the blocks 21, and

blocks. I

. Referring to Fig.9, when a medium wall is desired I utilize one row offiller-blocks 21,

,the construction of which will be apparent from an inspection of thedrawings.

From the above-description it will readily be understood that I haveprovided a building-wall which will cover the objects and pur- ;.=posesset forth. The air passing through the ventilators in the outer face ofthe wall is Figs. 7 and 9 illustrate the application of are left betweenthe adjacent TOC valuable in damp weather, as the presence of I of theshort side and a recess formed by each the air greatly assists in dryingout any dampness that may accumulate therein and keeps the inner portionof the wall in a dry condition. In warm weather the currents of air inthe ventilating-passages keep the inner portion of the Wall andcontained aircells in a cool state as compared with the sun-heated airon the outside, as the heated air in the ventilators passes out at thetop of the wall and is replaced with comparatively cooler air drawn infrom below. In cold and stormy Weather the outer portion of the wallshields the inner portion thereof with its aircells from the rain,sleet, and storms, and the air-currents absorb the moisture which maypenetrate the outer portion to the ventilatingpassages.

The air-cells in the interior face of the Wall are beneficial in coldweather in that they retain the air that has become warmed byinteriorly-generated heat induced inwardly through the inner face ofsaid wall, forming a warm-air zone within the wall.

Having thus fully described-my invention, what I'claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A building-block having parallel long and short er sides, obliqueends connecting said sides, interlocking lugs formed at the ends of theshorter side, and ventilating-passages formed entirely through theblock.

2. A building-block having parallel long and shorter sides, obliquevends connecting said sides, locking-lugs at the' ends of the shortersides fashioned to form interlocking means, extensions formed on theends of the longer sides, and o enings extending verti cally through theb ock.

3. A building-block having a long and short side, oblique endsconnecting said sides, a locking-lug at the ends of the short side and arecess formed by each lug and the oblique ends, and plane extensionprojecting beyond the body of the block at each end of the long side.

4. A building-block having parallel long and short sides, the ends ofthe body of the block formed on oblique lines, angular locking-lugsprojecting from the ends of the short side, extensions formed at theends of the long side of a thickness'of one-third of the body of theblock, and vertical passages extending through the block. a

5. A wall comprising an inner and an outer series of blocks eachfashioned to extend inwardly beyond the inner line of the oppositeseries, continuous vertical passages formed in the outer series ofblocks, and each block of each series having parallel long and shortsides, and interlocking lugs formed at the ends of the short sides.

6. A building-block having a long and a short side, oblique endsconnecting said sides, a V-shaped interlocking lug at the ends said lugand the oblique ends of the block,

. and plane extensions projecting beyond the ries, andventilating-passages formed in the outer series of blocks.

8. A wall comprising an inner and an outer series of blocks fashioned toextend inwardly beyond the inner line of the blocks of the oppositeseries, continuous vertical passages formed in the outer series ofblocks, an upper friezework communicating with said pasthe wallcommunicating with the lower end of the passages, the blocks in eachseries each ends connecting said sides, locking means formed at the endsof the shorter sides,-and extensions formed at the ends of the longsides.

9. A wall comprising an exterior and an interior series of blocks, theblocks of each series alternating and arranged to extend in- .wardlybeyond the inner line of the blocks of the opposite series, each of saidblocks having a long and a short side, locking-lugs formed at the endsof the short side, and extensions formed at the ends of the long sidesof the blocks providing an air-space within the wall, andmortar-retaining grooves on a surface of each of the blocks. 10. A.Wallcomprising an inner and an outer series of blocks each of said blockshaving a long and a short side, an intermediate block havinglocking-lugs at its corners, and

the short sides of the blocks in the inner and outer series to engagethe lugs on the intermediate blocks.

blocks and an interior series of blocks, the blocks of each serieshaving a long and a short side and oblique ends connecting said sides, alocking-lug at the ends of the short side of each block ada ted to fit acom lementary lug on the adj oining block, and p ane extensionsprojecting beyond the body of the blocks at the end of the long sides.

' 12. In a building-wa1l an exterior series of blocks and interiorseries of blocks, the

short side and oblique ends connectlng said sides, a V-shapedinterlocking In at the ends of theshort side of each block a. apted tofit of the blocks at each end ofthe long sides.

sages and a water-table near the bottom of complementary lug's formed atthe ends of a complementary lug on the adjoining block, and extensionsprojecting beyond the body having a parallel long and short side,oblique 11. In a building wall an exterior series. of

blocks of each series having a long and a &

14, In a Wall construction, an exterior se I ries of blocks havingparallel long and short sides, oblique ends connecting said sides andsaid blocks formed with openings forming ventilating-passagescommunicating with the atmosphere, an interior series of blocks havingparallel long and short sides, oblique ends connecting said sides, saidblock formed with cavities forming air-cells interiorly of the innerportion of the Wall, and a central block having parallel sides,apex-formed ends, and openings extending vertically through the saidblock to form air-chambers disposed interiorly of and independent of theventilating-passages and air-cells.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS D. EWING. Witnesses:

-W. O. WISE,

VERY SWEETEN.

